Mara → Diani — Bush to beach
8 days · 7 nights · Year-round
About this experience
The classic Kenyan combination. Four nights of dust and big cats in the Mara conservancy, then a one-hour flight to Diani — chalk-white sand, palm trees, a villa with a pool and a cook. It's the trip we book honeymooners and families on more than any other.
Highlights
- Honeymooners
- Families
- First-time visitors
- Hand-picked lodges with great reviews
- Private vehicle and experienced driver-guide
Signature experiences
Optional add-ons our specialists can build into this trip. Prices are per person, confirmed on request.
Lift off at dawn over the plains, drift silently above the herds, and land to a champagne bush breakfast. The definitive Mara morning.
Sail the reef lagoon on a traditional wooden dhow as the sun sets — often with fresh seafood and drinks aboard.
Spend an hour in a working manyatta — the jumping dance, fire-making, and a look at daily Maasai life, hosted by the community itself.
A lantern-lit table set out under the stars, your own chef and a crackling fire — the safari dinner people remember for years.
Included
- All accommodation (full-board in Mara, breakfast in Diani)
- All internal flights (Wilson ↔ Mara ↔ Ukunda)
- Park & conservancy fees
- Private vehicles + driver-guide in Mara
- Airport transfers throughout
- Cook at the Diani villa (you pay groceries, ~$30/day for 2)
- 24/7 WhatsApp line
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya eVisa
- Travel insurance
- Hot-air balloon ($475 pp, optional)
- Snorkel trip ($90 pp, optional)
- Lunches & dinners at the villa (groceries are cheap)
- Tips
Price breakdown
The plan, day by day
From pickup to drop-off — exactly what your trip looks like.
JKIA pickup, transfer to Wilson, light-aircraft flight to the Mara. Afternoon game drive.
Dawn and afternoon drives. Lion territory.
Optional 5am balloon. Afternoon walking safari with a Maasai guide. Sundowner.
Final dawn drive, brunch. Late-morning flight Mara → Wilson → Ukunda (the small coast strip serving Diani). Driver meets you, twenty minutes to the villa, in the water by 4pm.
Pool, beach, lunch the cook prepares at the villa. Optional afternoon dhow sail out of Galu beach.
Snorkel trip out to Kisite-Mpunguti marine park (45 min boat ride, brilliant coral, sometimes dolphins). Back for lunch.
Massage in the villa, read a book, do nothing. Sunset cocktail at the bar across the road if you feel social.
Late-morning flight Ukunda → Nairobi. Day room at a Wilson airport hotel if your international connection is in the evening (often the case).
What travelers say
Guest reviews →Bookara guest rating
Meeting point
Your full route across Kenya — pickup confirmed the day before departure.
Drag to pan · pinch or buttons to zoom
- 01 NairobiDay 1 · City
- 02 Maasai MaraDay 1 · National park & reserve
- 03 Diani CoastDay 4 · Indian Ocean coast
- 04 NairobiDay 8 · City
Good to know
Cancel for any reason up to 90 days before your departure and receive a full refund. After that, our standard partial-refund schedule applies — see full terms.
Common questions
Why fly Mara to Diani instead of via Nairobi?+
The direct flight saves a full day and a connection through Nairobi. It's our default and it's included in the trip price. The flight is on a light aircraft (Cessna Caravan), 1h 50min total.
Does the villa come with a cook?+
Yes. The cook prepares all meals you ask for — they shop the local market, you pay groceries (typically $30–40/day for two). Most families budget about $250 for groceries across the three nights.
Can we do the snorkel trip with young kids?+
Ages 6+ comfortably; under 6 we recommend the dhow sail instead (calmer, shorter, easier). The reef boat ride is 45 minutes each way and the snorkelling itself needs basic swimming confidence.
When should we go for the best weather everywhere?+
Sweet spots: late January, late February, late June, September. Avoid mid-April through May (long rains) — coast is humid and the Mara is wet. November can have great deals but afternoon coastal showers are common.
Book on WhatsApp
Your chat opens with the trip pre-filled — no payment needed now. Our team replies between 7am–10pm EAT.
Request saved
WhatsApp is opening with your details pre-filled — just hit send.
- 1 Send the pre-filled messageYour trip details are already written for you.
- 2 Confirm in chat — or pay the deposit onlineSame reference either way. Our team replies 7am–10pm EAT.
- 3 Instant confirmationWhatsApp message + email receipt the moment your deposit lands.
Your request ref becomes your booking reference once the deposit is paid.
Book direct with the operator
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Licensed & certified
Kenya-registered operator in Nairobi with experienced driver-guides.
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Our own vehicles & guides
Trips run end to end by Bookara staff — never handed to a third party.
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Secure payment
Card or Apple Pay through Paystack (USD). Park fees included in the price you see.
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Flexible cancellation
Free cancellation up to 90 days before departure; 30% deposit holds your dates.
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